GIPPSLAND Pride’s unbeaten run at last week’s under 18 state cricket championships came to an end in last Thursday’s semi-final against South East Bayside Breakers.
The Pride won its opening three fixtures over Southern Pioneers, North East Knights and Inner East Emus by handsome margins, before a washout in the qualifying final against Central Highlands saw the side through to the semi-finals.
Traralgon and District Cricket Association A grade star Jackson McMahon (52) posted a half-century in the semi, and combined with Devin Pollock (51) to lift the Pride to a competitive total of 157 all out.
The Breakers began shakily before reaching the target four wickets down.
Pollock led the batting for the Pride with 131 runs at 43.67 through four matches, while Jakeb Thomas was the pick of the bowlers with six wickets at 11.17.
The Pride also reached the semi-finals in the under 16 and under 14 VicSpirit female championships before falling to South East Sharks and Inner East Scorpions respectively.
Moe local Nicole Faltum played a lone hand for the under 16 Pride side with 37 not out in a team total of 93 chasing 130.
Nicole averaged 66 for the tournament and was dismissed just once in four matches.
The under 14s posted 9/74 in 25 overs against the Scorpions who reeled the target in comfortably.
The under 14 and 16 male state championships begin today.
